Starting Over - Chapter Twenty - A knock at the door!

Chapter Twenty - A knock at the door

                “I am NOT driving that!” Jan exclaimed when he first saw the small red car. “It’s a girl’s car...no an old woman’s car! I’ll stick to my bike.”

Ellen pressed a finger to her lip, “then you won’t be able to stay here. This is the prerequisite of the deal.....” she leaned close and whispered, “and any more sex!”

Jan groaned, “give me the keys!”

                “Can we swap keys? Cos I sense the need for your moped!” With a great big beaming smile, she pocketed her exchange and headed back upstairs laughing.

Two weeks later, Ellen was cooking dinner, roast chicken, expecting Jan at any time, things couldn’t be better, she couldn’t believe that Jan didn’t feel the same way. They’d been together the best part of three months. He knew her better than anyone else in the world, emotionally, physically, sexually. He was her perfect match. Living together was bliss, their varied hours were difficult, but not impossible, and at some point EVERY night, they curled up together in the same bed.

She was hoping to discuss their future tonight, not something she was relishing, but something essential. Ellen was loving this lifestyle, she even enjoyed working in the shop, but there wasn’t long left in the holiday season, she wanted to know what his intentions were, she knew that come October she’d be settling down somewhere, sliding back into the real world. She just didn’t know if he’d follow.

She was dancing around the kitchen to Vanilla Ice, a guilty pleasure from local radio when the doorbell rang. Rushing to answer it she was about to question where Jan’s keys were when she stopped, this wasn’t Jan. And if her memory served her right, she recognised this man from the photos Jan had shared with her.

                “You must be Louis?” she offered a hand, then dropped it awkwardly when he reached in to plant a kiss on each cheek.

                “And you must be Ellen Reynolds! Did my threats get your money back?” she thought back to how Richard had quaked at the thought of him returning.

Ellen grinned, “you did good! Both me and Richard got what we deserved!”

He chuckled, “that’s good. Sorry to turn up here out of the blue, my brother hasn’t been answering his phone, and if Mahomet won’t go to the mountain, then the mountain will come to Mahomet!”

                “Ah! He’s a little stubborn, your brother!”

Louis laughed loudly, “talk about an understatement! So you’re the one who’s been keeping him cooped up out here?” He followed her into the apartment.

Stopping she held up her hand, “Louis, he was well and truly here on his own, I’ve not changed that!”

Louis laughed, “sorry it was a figure of speech. It’s just a while since he’s....cared about anyone like this!”

It was Ellen’s turn to laugh, “I can assure you that he isn’t as ‘in’ to this as you may think.”

                “Ah, Jan is still fighting against life. That’s typical him.”

Ellen stepped into the kitchen, “beer?” When he nodded she cracked open two bottles and handed him one. “He’s always been an awkward bastard then has he?”

Louie laughed, “oh yes!”

As he animatedly regaled stories from their childhood she studied him, he was dark, like Jan, but whereas Jan was angular in features, with dark small eyes, Louis was more rounded, his brown eyes warm, welcoming, Jan was taller, and much fitter, the weeks of dancing, playing games and probably ‘adventurous activities’ with her had had an effect, not that Louis was fat, he just wasn’t anywhere near as muscular as Jan.

                “So he’s living here now? Not the hotel?” Louis was still struggling to catch up with what was happening.  “I thought I’d have to traipse out to that hotel to find him.

                “He moved in a few weeks ago, which is a little ironic considering this place belongs to YOUR family, but there you go!” She was checking on the food as she answered and didn’t see Louis’ puzzled look.

                “Hey honey! I’m home!” A voice boomed from the closed front door, as it burst open both her and Louis stood at opposite ends of the lounge and smiled at him. “What’s going on? Louis? What the hell are you doing here?”

Louis grinned and crossed the room, “nice to see you too bro!” Their hello hug was awkward.

                “Why are you here?” Jan kept pushing at his brother.

                “You weren’t answering my calls Jan, I HAD to come here.”

Jan looked angry, “there’s a reason for that, you know that!” Then with an apologetic look at Ellen, he burst into a rapid burst of language...German? Dutch? She wished her language skills were better, but then she was glad to be out of this heated debate. Jan looked furious, Louis was laughing at him, in an almost taunting manner. This was so much more than a family argument, suddenly she wanted no part.

                “Why don’t you two take this elsewhere? I don’t want to be part of this.”

Jan snapped an “ok!” then dragged his brother out of the apartment.

The food sat untouched, Ellen sat and watched a film waiting for the brothers to return, unsure what she thought about Louis’ appearance, and the subsequent disappearance, she just knew she didn’t want to be stuck in the middle of a family battle.

Ellen was cleaning her teeth planning on an early night when the door opened, and a more amicable Jan came into the apartment. Louis headed for the fridge and a beer, Jan came up to her and gave her a hug, “sorry love, I had to sort things out with this idiot. I wanted to be here though.”

She shrugged, “do you want food? It’s all ready to go?”

Louis groaned appreciatively, “it smells wonderful. I haven’t eaten since lunchtime.”

Grinning Ellen started to dish out food for them, she liked Louis, he knew how to manage Jan and that was good to see! Piling chicken salad and potatoes onto two plates she handed one to each of them.

               

                “I’m off to bed now, do you think you can both manage to not argue again?” she raised an eyebrow sarcastically and dashed into the bedroom laughing as they both protested loudly.

Ellen was woken by Jan kissing her gently, “I’m going to work, I’ll see you later!”

She rubbed her eyes, “is it morning already?”

He nodded, “you looked so tired I let you sleep in.”

Stretching she sat up, “am I going to be late for work?”

                “No, I’m due in a little early today, you’ve got another half an hour!”

She was brewing coffee when Louis emerged from one of the spare rooms. Handing him a mug she asked if he wanted some breakfast.

                “I’m ok, coffee’s good. I’m planning on hitting the beach today; it’s a long time since I took a few days off.”

She nodded as she sliced some bread and toasted it for herself, “so how long are you here for? It’s nice to finally meet some of Jan’s family!”

                “You obviously have never met one of my sisters or you’d not be saying that! I’m going to stay til the weekend I think, as long as you guys don’t mind. Be nice to see Jan, and catch some rays. In fact, he told me he’ll be home at half past nine; I wanted to take you both out for dinner. If you’d like.”

                “That sounds perfect.” She handed him a key to the apartment. I finish at nine so I guess we’ll both be back at the same time.”

That night they ate at an exclusive restaurant overlooking the marina, Louis proved to be even better company than she imagined, he was funny, charming and teased Jan interminably. It was a great evening, and no sign of the arguments that had scarred the previous evening.

The next afternoon Louis came to find her at work, he looked tense, Pedro who was such a great boss told her to take a ten minute break, so she headed to a coffee shop with him.

                “You ok?” she asked bringing two coffees to the table.

                “I’ve got to go back, things have cropped up, I’ve called Jan and told him, but I thought it was common courtesy to tell you too.” He was pale and nervy. She could tell he wasn’t looking forward to heading back to his life.

                “Are you sure you’re ok? You look anxious!”

He shrugged, “there’s so much going on at the moment, I doubt Jan has told you but my family owns some breweries? There are a few issues that are causing me grief at the moment. I thought I could stay away.”

                “And this is what Jan’s avoiding?” She asked, finally hoping to learn more about the elusive side of her lover.

He shrugged, “Jan is Jan, I don’t blame him...”

                “But if he could help then he should? Maybe he doesn’t feel he’s up to it? That he's good enough?”

Louis laughed, “oh yeah, Jan Zeigler can’t cope with a few breweries – as if! He’s wasting his time and talent here....but then I can’t blame him for that either, after everything.” When he saw confusion on her face he sighed, “I’m not putting my foot in anything; if Jan’s being secretive then that’s his fault.”

                “I don’t understand Louis, you speak in riddles, he doesn’t talk....what’s going on?”

“It’s up to him to tell you things about himself Ellen,” he stood having downed his espresso, “it’s been a pleasure meeting you, I just hope you can tolerate him enough to stick around.”

                “Louis!” she was standing now, and called him back, “What did you mean about secretive? What does it all mean?” A sympathetic look crossed his face but he remained silent, “Louis please. I love him, but I know so little about him....”

Whether it was her pleading, or some instinct to do right by her brother, he said two words before he left, “Google him!”

All afternoon she could barely concentrate. What the hell did that mean? Had he been in prison? Was she about to read about some dodgy dealings when she got home and logged on?  She had no idea, but nausea washed over her as she tried to deal with her anxiety. Her fear that the last three months had all been a waste was at the forefront of her brain.

Seven o’clock couldn’t come quick enough; she almost ran the quarter of a mile back to the apartment, and burst through the door. Grabbing her laptop she logged on quickly then brought up a search engine.  Typing in ‘Jan Zeigler’ she waited the two seconds for three hundred thousand hits. Reading quickly she selected the first article, a New York Times review of the top twenty entrepreneurs in the country.

                “Zeigler single-handedly pulled a twenty million dollar software company out of the ashes of its previous owner to kick start his rise to the top. Within three years he owned three major East coast conglomerates and a chain of manufacturing businesses. With his partner Rory Sharp they look to be the greatest movers and shakers this country has ever seen.” It was dated two years ago.

She froze as she tried to digest that. The next item was another article touting him as an eligible bachelor. This one had a photo, and she could tell it was a couple of years old, his hair was neat, his suit expensive, and his credentials impeccable.  The next five entries were all from financial newspapers telling of Rory’s death, suicide.

Ellen was stunned. This was....she tried to contemplate all that she’d read, he was a millionaire many times over due to his astute business prowess, yet he worked for a pittance in a tourist hotel, then there was Rory...Jan had mentioned him, but never that it was suicide that ended his life. She was torn between feeling sorry for him, and fuming that he’d lied deliberately despite having the chance to share things with her.

She changed into running shorts and a cut off sports top and went for a jog, she needed to clear her head or she’d implode with the pressure.  As she pounded the hard streets heat making the run almost unbearable, one word was foremost in her mind. The word Trust. Jan hadn’t trusted her at all, despite throwing himself so heftily into her life. It made a mockery of the last few months really. Every time she’d bemoaned him for his lack of motivation, for settling into such a low expectation lifestyle, he never once mentioned all that he’d already achieved. And she also couldn’t imagine why he’d thrown it all away, why was he now not even considering helping the family in their hour of need?

Only one man knew the answers, and he was due home in an hour!